Louisville, Kentucky – Mary Spalding, a 72-year-old woman, continues to grapple with feelings of insecurity and lack of closure since the traumatic event on December 17, 2018. That morning, as she was preparing for work, she was ambushed by an unknown assailant in her basement. The attacker struck her over the head with a metal object, leaving her battered and bruised. Despite the absence of forced entry, Spalding managed to contact her sister, who then alerted 911.
Detective Deidre Mengedoht initially led the investigation into the case, instilling hope in Spalding that justice would be served. However, tragedy struck on Christmas Eve when Mengedoht was killed in an accident involving an MSD truck and her parked police cruiser during a traffic stop. Subsequent transfer of the case to other detectives resulted in poor communication and lack of progress, with no questioning of potential suspects.
Frustrated with the lack of progress in her case, Spalding filed a complaint with Louisville’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), marking one of the office’s early received complaints since its establishment. Inspector General Edward Harness launched a full investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department’s (LMPD) handling of Spalding’s case, uncovering significant discrepancies and systemic failures.
The OIG’s report highlighted numerous issues in the investigation, starting with assumptions surrounding Mengedoht’s death and the mishandling of key evidence. Despite Spalding’s suspicions pointing to her ex-fiancé as the perpetrator, investigative efforts fell short in questioning and detaining him. The report also criticized evidence collection practices, citing flawed testing procedures and lack of follow-up on critical leads.
Harness emphasized the importance of addressing the deficiencies identified in Spalding’s case, underscoring the need for improved case management and evidence handling at LMPD. Recommendations for enhancing detective training and caseload management were proposed to prevent future investigative lapses. The impact of the OIG’s findings on LMPD’s investigative practices remains to be seen as the department evaluates the recommended changes.
In response to the OIG’s report, both LMPD and the mayor’s office expressed commitment to upholding best practices in investigations and ensuring justice for Spalding. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and oversight bodies aim to rectify shortcomings in investigative procedures and provide closure to victims of violent crimes.